A former student of Aita once told me

[Repost - Nov 13, 2024]

 A former student of Aita* 'dad' once told me that he used to say my parents left the U.S. because they didn’t want their kids wearing baseball caps—they wanted us to wear a txapela (Basque beret) instead🧑‍🎨 It's not like we wore it lately, but you get the idea. 

🏅One of his US friends described him as “the ambassador of the Basque Country” because he made sure people learned about our culture during his time in the US. Even though he didn’t speak Basque, he took deep pride in our heritage; showed in his passion for sailing ⛵, exploring, and his commitment to studying the Spanish variety spoken in the BC—a journey he shared with my ama. He took great pride in the Spanish he spoke, as it reflected the history of a lineage once rooted in Basque. He used Basque words from his grandparents and incorporated them into our home Spanish. A language of resilience—a Spanish of resistance. ✊️

🌎Although my parents eventually returned to the BC, their connection to the US stayed strong. Aita established an exchange program between both places, allowing him to visit the US every year. At university fairs, his booth always featured an ikurriña, the Basque flag, even though he was officially there under “exchange in Spain.” When Americans came to the Basque Country, he took them on tours of iconic Basque sites, making sure they understood that they were on Basque land.

 🇺🇸 Aita loved the US, and I’d say the US loved him back. It gave him room to grow, and he built bonds that truly lasted. He loved Westerns 🤠, the rock scene 🎸, and the vibrant academic world. He tried to bring all of that back home, which made him a unique person to be around.

Now that he’s left us, pieces of his legacy remain here and there—some in his family, some in friends and students: a passion for linguistics 📚, a love for Basque culture, a fondness for live concerts 🎶 and local bands, and, above all, a zest for life and a drive to make the most of every moment.

May your adventurous spirit live on in everyone who met you. Zorionak, aitaxu. Happy 62. Maite zaitugu 🖤

(1) @unaitxuuu24 ,aita & me🤠 - MISSING

(2) Aita 🤠

(3) Ama @resienamanesi & Aita’s silver wedding. 

(4) University fair

(5) Aita sailing